Ventilated wood reinforced fiberboard container



Jan. 21,- 1947. H. E. MON'I 'AGUE 2,414,659

I VENTILATED WOOD REINFORCEb FIBERBOARD CONTAINER v Filed April 11, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet 1 HEM"; Z'ague H. E. MONTAGUE Jan; 21, 1947.

VENTILATED woon REINFORCED FIBERBOARD CONTAINER Filed April 11, 1944 s Shets-Sheet 2 Jan. 21, 1947. H o u 2,414,659

VENTILATED WOOD REINFORCED FIBERBOARD CONTAINER Filed A ril 11, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 lllllllllllllllll.lll lllll. p

HEfl/oniagu e V Patented Jan. 21, 1947 i? VENTlLATED W001) REINFORCED rrcnnnosmo CONTAINER Harry E. Montague, Riverside, Conn; Ida

.Hemmer Montague, executrix of said Harry E. Montague, deceased, assignor to Ida Hemmer Montague and Robert V. Harry, copartners doing business as H. E. Montague ;& Company,

New York, N. Y.

Application April 11, 1944, Serial No. 530,493

This inventionrelates to receptacles, and it is primarily an object of the invention to provide an article of this kind particularly adapted for use in the handling of berries and the like and which is so constructed to permit the same to be employed to advantage as a picking tray.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind which includes as a part thereof swinging closure members of a type whereby, when desired, such closure members may be used as carrying mediums.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a receptacle of this kind wherein effective ventilation is assured for the contents of the receptacle, whereby the same is particularly advantageous for use in the packing of berries and kindred. perishable food stuifs.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved receptacle whereby certain important advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a receptacle constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention, with the closure members partly open;

Figure 2 is a view in perspective illustrating an assembly of a plurality of receptacles;

Figure 3 is a view in perspective, with a portion broken away, illustrating one of the units as illustrated in Figure 2 raised to allow inspection of the under unit;

Figure 4 is a view in perspective showing the receptacle in adjustment for use as a picking tray, the associated berry boxes being indicated by broken lines;

Figure 5 is a view of the blank from which the major portion of the receptacle as herein disclosed is produced;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken through the receptacle as herein embodied with the closure members in closed position; and

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 'l! of Figure 4.

In accordance with the invention as disclosed in the accompanying drawings, the receptacle R comprises a base or bottom wall I, side walls 2 and swinging closure members 3 all produced from a single blank of material, such as corru- 1 Claim. (Cl.. 22f9-23) gatedboard or the like. It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited in :any way to any particular material as this is a matter of preference and. selection.

The receptacle R inthe present embodiment of the inventionhas its end walls 4 of wood or'other substantially rigid material.

As illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings, the walls I and 2 and the closure members 3 are included in a single blank B, theend walls being properly folded on the line a extending transversely of the blank while the closure members 3 are folded along the lines b also transversely of the blank.

The end walls 4. are of alength coextensive in length .with the Width of the bottom wall I and of a height substantially equal to the height of the side walls 2. These end walls 4 are placed upon the bottom wall I at the ends thereof and the folded side walls 2 have their extremities in close contact with the ends of the end walls 4. The bottom wall I and the end walls 2 are secured to the end walls 4 by the conventional headed members 5 or otherwise as may be deemed desirable.

The closure members 3 are each of a width substantially equal to one-half the width of the bottom wall I. It is also to be particularly pointed out that the width of these closure members 3 is materially in excess of the height of the side walls 2 so that when the closure members 3 are swung inwardly into close contact with the side walls 2, they will extend a pronounced distance beyond, 01' below the bottom wall I so that when in such adjustment, the receptacle R can be used as a picking tray with sufiicient clearance below the bottom wall I to protect vines and fruit from crushing. In the present embodiment of the invention the closure members 3 are held in this inner position by the split fastening members 6 disposed through the side walls 2 and the overlying portions of the closure members 3 although, of course, it is within the scope of the invention to employ other means for holding the closure members in such position as may be considered expedient.

The side walls 2 at desired points spaced therealong are provided with the slots 1, herein disclosed as disposed lengthwise of said side walls and at substantially the transverse center thereof. These slots 1 allow for the circulation of air through the receptacle R, particularly when packed, and with the members 3 in closed. position to assure desired ventilation.

The members 3 at their longitudinal centers wardly disposed. While these openings 8 provide further means forassuring air circulation through the receptacle, they are of particular advantage in providing means whereby the closure j In practice, the receptacle R is of such dimensions or capacity as to accommodate either twelve standard quart containers or eighteen standard pint containers, with such applied containers having their top or open faces below the upper margins of the side walls 2 and the end walls 4. It is also to be noted that when the closure members 3 are swung into their closed position, the extremities thereof overlie and have direct contact with the upper edges of the end walls 4.

When it is desired to make what is known as a standard twenty-four quart or a standard thirtysix pint crate, two packed receptacles are superimposed one upon the other and maintained in such position by the surrounding'adhesive tapes 9 of a well known commercial type. When such a package is used and it is desired to inspect the lower receptacle, it is only necessary to cut the tapes 9 at one'side of the package at substantially the juncture ofthe superimposed receptacles, whereby the top section may be readily swung upwardly to allow the opening of one of the closure members 3 of the lower receptacle, as shown clearly in Figure '3 of the drawings. From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a receptacle constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated.

' What is claimed is:

, A combination receptacle and picking tray, comprising a single rectangular sheet of foldable material bent transversely to form a bottom wall, opposite side walls and two top wall forming members, said side walls being relatively shallow and said top wall forming members being of a width materially greater than th depth of the side walls, the sheet of material having two transversely extending rows of openings therethrough each row of openings being in a side wall, each of said top wall formin members having an opening adjacent to its free longitudinal edge and substantially midway between its ends, a pair of rigid end wall members each being disposed between the two side walls along an edge of the bottom wall portion and secured to said bottom wall portion and the adjacent side walls, the said top wall forming members being foldable inwardly against the longitudinal top edges of the end wall members and further being adapted to be olded outwardly to position against the adjacent side walls to extend below the same for the formation of supporting legs, the openings of the top wall forming members providing finger receiving means for carrying the receptacle when such top wall forming members are in partially closed position over the top of the receptacle, and fastening elements adapted to be extended through each top wall forming member and the adjacent side wall to secure the said topwall forming members in the leg forming position. I

HARRY E. MONTAGUE. 

